Ceiling panel



June 13, 1961 D. L. ZINN CEILING PANEL Filed Aug. 4, 1958 25 24 2/ z; 24 2 2412 V26 20 24 22 5 2/ 4 j 45 I196? 19 INVEN TOR.

04444-2 z. z/// BY md/ 2a armm/ United States Patent 2,988,184 CEILING PANEL Daniel L. Zinn, 3938 Chene St., Detroit, Mich. Filed Aug. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 752,909 3 Claims. (Cl. 189-85) This invention relates to ceiling panels for building structures and more particularly to ceiling panel units adapted for suspension and mounting below a room ceiling in side by side and in end to end relation.

It is an object of the present invention to prow'de a novel form of ceiling panel, a series of which are employed normally suspended from a room Ceiling and wherein each panel consists of an elongated horizontally disposed uniformly perforated strip of rectangular shape which includes along one edge an outstanding web and associated panel support flange by which the individual panel is suspended from the ceiling.

It is a further object to construct said ceiling panels so that the same are supported from one longitudinal side only with respect to the ceiling but with the other longitudinal edge supported upon a bottom support flange which projects laterally from the adjacent edge of the next adjacent ceiling panel.

It is therefore a further object to provide in a ceiling panel a single upright wall upon one side for suspension from the room ceiling with the opposite longitudinal edge supportably mountable upon the next adjacent similarly suspended ceiling panel.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in said ceiling panel adjacent the bottom perforated strip a first or bottom support flange and parallel thereto and thereabove a second panel support flange, and adjacent the opposite longitudinal edge of said perforated strip, a second horizontally disposed support flange vertically upset from said strip.

It is a further object to provide a novel ceiling panel having an inherent rigidity in its formation and therefore eliminating corrugations or other strengthening means.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claims in conjunction with the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective broken away view of a pair of ceiling panels in engaging relation.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary right side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end elevational view thereof.

It will be understood that the above drawing illustrates merely a preferred embodiment of the invention and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set forth.

The present invention is directed to the use and construction of ceiling panels wherein a plurality thereof are suspended from a ceiling in side by side and end to end relation and wherein the uniformly perforated bottom strips thereof cooperate and are in contact and horizontal alignment to give a finished ceiling appearance.

A series of recumbent U-shaped channels 11 are horizontally disposed and suitably suspended from the room ceiling by a series of wire hangers 12 looped at 13, as illustrative of one convenient means of suspending said channels. Longitudinally spaced pairs of clips are mounted over adjacent pairs of parallel channels 11. Said clips are of inverted U-shape having a horizontal base 15 which rests upon an individual channel 11 and has a pair of spaced depending sides 14 which extend to a point below channel 11 and terminate in the outturned formed supports 16, FIGS. 1 and 2.

An adjacent pair of clips depending from adjacent channels provides the means for supporting one of the longitudinal edges of the present ceiling panel or unit, generally indicated at 20. The opposite longitudinal edge of said panel is supportably positioned upon the next adjacent similarly suspended ceiling panel in the manner hereafter described.

The present ceiling panel consists of an elongated horizontally disposed strip 22 of rectangular shape and which is uniformly perforated throughout at 23. One longitudinal edge of strip 22 is reverse-folded defining the elongated bottom support flange 21 which extends throughout the length of the panel.

Said panel includes at the inner end of flange 21 the elongated upright Web 19. This Web at its upper end terminates in the elongated outwardly directed panel support flange 17 which similarly extends throughout the length of the web and terminates in the reverse turned reinforcing head 18 upon its undersurface.

Panel support flange 17 is adapted to overlie the forwardly extending supports 16 of at least a pair of m ounting clips 15 to thereby suspend one longitudinal edge of said panel from a pair of channels 11.

Panel support flange 17 is arranged above and in parallel relation to bottom support flange 21.. Strip 22 at its opposite longitudinal edge is vertically upset throughout its length at 24 to define the second horizontally disposed support flange 25 extending throughout the length of the panel.

Flange 25 terminates in the upright end flange 26 adapted for engagement throughout its outer surface with one side of web 19 of the next adjacent ceiling panel throughout its length.

The respective opposite transverse edges of panel 20 terminate in the upturned flanges 27, FIG. 3, by which a pair of ceiling panels may abut each other in end-to-end relation.

By this construction each of the ceiling panels 20 has an upright Web 19 throughout its length extending from one side thereof adapted to be suspended by at least a pair of clips 15 mounted upon the transversely arranged channels 11, one of which is shown in FIG. 1.

The present ceiling panel has only one upright web. Its opposite longitudinal edge is supportably mounted with its second horizontally disposed support flange 25 resting upon the next adjacent bottom Support flange 21 of a succeeding ceiling panel.

The ceiling panel assembly is completed by mounting over and across panel support flanges 17 a relatively thick layer of fibreglass padding 28 which serves as an insulating medium and which is adapted to overlie the complete ceiling panel assembly below the room ceiling. The padding may be of one inch thickness, for illustration.

This fibreglass or other padding is, of course, completely hidden by the assembled ceiling panels.

For illustration, the ceiling panels 20 may be of any desired length, such as 4, 6, 8 or 10 feet. Their width, including flanges 21 and 25 is substantially 12% inches, for illustration; and the webs 19 are approximately 1% inches high, for illustration.

It is contemplated however, that the dimensions set forth are merely for illustration, as any other suitable dimensions may be employed in the present ceiling panel.

In the foregoing description the ceiling panel includes bottom strips 22 uniformly perforated. These perforations in conjunction with the fibreglass blanket 28 provide acoustical or sound deadening properties. Blanket 28 also provides for heat insulation.

It is contemplated that bottom strip 22 may not be perforated, and nevertheless serve as a very useful ceiling panel. In this case the fibreglass blanket may be omitted, unless it is desired for insulating purposes.

While channels 11 have been described as suspended from a room ceiling, as the support for a series of ceiling employed with proper attachment devices, such as Wood joists, steel roof decks and plastered ceilings.

Having described my invention, reference should now be had to the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In a suspended ceiling construction, an elongated horizontally disposed support member, at least one clip including a horizontally disposed support portion underlying said support member, a plurality of rectangular, horizontally disposed ceiling panel units each including abutting side edges transverse to said support member and disposed therebeneath, one panel unit including at its abutting side edge a reverse-fold support flange overlying the one panel unit and continuing in a vertically disposed Web terminating in a laterally projecting support flange juxtaposed between said support member and horizontally disposed support portion of said clip for retention therebetween, another panel unit including a side edge including an L-shaped portion complementary to and overlying the reverse-fold support flange of said one panel unit and freely suspended thereon, the remaining opposed, transverse edges of said panel units comprising vertically extending integral flanges adapted to be in confronting relation to similar flanges of an adjacent panel unit, the ends of said L-shaped portion and reverse-fold support being in substantial coplanar relation.

2. The structure of claim 1; said L-shaped portion of said other panel unit terminating in a vertically extending flange juxtaposed on an adjacent side portion of the vertically disposed Web of said one panel unit.

3. The structure of claim 1; said ceiling panel units including intermediate transverse apertures, and insulating material juxtaposed on the support member and spaced above said panel units.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,772,694 White Aug. 12, 1930 1,987,537 Oehrlein et al. Jan. 8, 1935 2,221,001 Lucius Nov. 12, 1940 2,628,078 Krauss Feb. 10, 1953 2,767,440 Nelsson Oct. 23, 1956 2,857,995 Boulton Oct. 28, 1958 

